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Laban answered him: "If you will please... I have learned through divination that it is because of you that God has blessed me. So," he continued, "state what wages you want from me, and I will pay them." Jacob replied: "You know what work I did for you and how well your livestock fared under my care; the little you had before I came has grown into very much, since the LORD'S blessings came upon you in my company. Therefore I should now do something for my own household as well." "What should I pay you?" Laban asked. Jacob answered: "You do not have to pay me anything outright. I will again pasture and tend your flock, if you do this one thing for me: go through your whole flock today and remove from it every dark animal among the sheep and every spotted or speckled one among the goats. Only such animals shall be my wages. In the future, whenever you check on these wages of mine, let my honesty testify against me: any animal in my possession that is not a speckled or spotted goat, or a dark sheep, got there by theft!" "Very well," agreed
Laban. "Let it be as you say." [GEN
31:27-34]
Then Joseph gave orders to have their containers filled with grain, their money replaced in each one's sack, and provisions given them for their journey. After this had been done for them, they loaded their donkeys with the rations and departed. At the night encampment, when one of them opened his bag to give his donkey some fodder, he was surprised to see his money in the mouth of his bag. "My money has been returned!" he cried out to his brothers. "Here it is in my bag!" At that their hearts sank. Trembling, they asked one another, "What is this that God has done to us?"
When they were emptying their sacks, there in each one's sack
was his moneybag! At the sight of their moneybags, they and their
father were dismayed. [GEN 42:25-28,35]
Joseph gathered in, as payment for the rations that were being
dispensed, all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan,
and he put it in Pharaoh's palace. When all the money in Egypt and Canaan was spent, all the
Egyptians came to Joseph, pleading, "Give us food or we shall
perish under your eyes; for our money is gone." [GEN 47:14-15]
"When a man gives money or an article to another for
safekeeping and it is stolen from the latter's house, the thief,
if caught, must make twofold restitution." [EX 22:6]
"If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my
people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by
demanding interest from him." [EX 22:24]
"You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not
withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer." [LEV 19:13]
Do not exact interest from your countryman either in money or
in kind, but out of fear of God let him live with you. You are to lend him neither money at interest nor food at a
profit. [LEV 25:36-37]
"You shall not demand interest from your countrymen on a
loan of money or of food or of anything else on which interest is
usually demanded." [DEUT 23:20]
"No one shall take a hand mill or even its upper stone as a
pledge for debt, for he would be taking the debtor's sustenance as
a pledge." [DEUT 24:6]
You shall pay him each day's wages before sundown on the day
itself, since he is poor and looks forward to them. Otherwise he
will cry to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty.
[DEUT 24:15]
Nevertheless, as late as the twenty-third year of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not made needed repairs on the temple. Accordingly, King Joash summoned the priest Jehoiada and the other priests. "Why do you not repair the temple?" he asked them. "You must no longer take funds from your clients, but you shall turn them over for the repairs." So the priests agreed that they would neither take funds from the people nor make the repairs on the temple. The priest Jehoiada then took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the stele, on the right as one entered the temple of the LORD. The priests who guarded the entry would put into it all the funds that were brought to the temple of the LORD. When they noticed that there was a large amount of silver in the chest, the royal scribe (and the priest) would come up, and they would melt down all the funds that were in the temple of the LORD, and weigh them. The amount thus realized they turned over to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD. They in turn would give it to the carpenters and builders working in the temple of the LORD, and to the lumbermen and stone cutters, and for the purchase of the wood and hewn stone used in repairing the breaches, and for any other expenses that were necessary to repair the temple. None of the funds brought to the temple of the LORD were used there to make silver cups, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or any gold or silver article. Instead, they were given to the workmen, and with them they repaired the temple of the LORD. Moreover, no reckoning was asked of the men who were provided with the funds to give to the workmen, because they held positions of trust. The funds from guilt-offerings and from sin-offerings, however, were not brought to the temple of the LORD; they belonged to the priests. [2KGS
12:7-17]
King David then said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and immature; the work, however, is great, for this castle is not intended for man, but for the LORD God. For this reason I have stored up for the house of my God, as far as I was able, gold for what will be made of gold, silver for what will be made of silver, bronze for what will be made of bronze, iron for what will be made of iron, wood for what will be made of wood, onyx stones and settings for them, carnelian and mosaic stones, every other kind of precious stone, and great quantities of marble. But now, because of the delight I take in the house of my God, in addition to all that I stored up for the holy house, I give to the house of my God my personal fortune in gold and silver: three thousand talents of Ophir gold, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the rooms, for the various utensils to be made of gold and silver, and for every work that is to be done by artisans. Now, who else is willing to contribute generously this day to the LORD?" Then the heads of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the overseers of the king's affairs came forward willingly and contributed for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. Those who had precious stones gave them into the keeping of Jehiel the Gershonite for the treasury of the house of the LORD. The people rejoiced over these free-will offerings, which had been contributed to the LORD wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.
[1CHRON 29:1-9]
Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that house of God; they are to rebuild it on its former site. I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God: From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates, let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay. [EZRA
6:7-8]
After some deliberation, I called the nobles and magistrates to account, saying to them, "You are exacting interest from your own kinsmen!" I then rebuked them
severely.. "What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, and put an end to the derision of our Gentile enemies? I myself, my kinsmen, and my attendants have lent the people money and grain without charge. Let us put an end to this usury! I ask that you return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, together with the interest on the money, the grain, the wine, and the oil that you have lent them." They answered: "We will return everything and exact nothing further from them. We will do just what you ask." Then I called for the priests and had them administer an oath to these men that they would do as they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my garment, saying, "Thus may God shake from his home and his fortune every man who fails to keep this promise, and may he thus be shaken out and emptied!" And the whole assembly answered, "Amen," and praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.
[NEH 5:7,9-13]
When the peoples of the land bring in merchandise or any kind
of grain for sale on the sabbath day, we will not buy from them on
the sabbath or on any other holyday. We will forgo the seventh
year, as well as every kind of debt. [NEH 10:32]
That same day Tobit remembered the money he had deposited with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he thought, "Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money before I die?"
[TOBIT 4:1-2]
"Do not keep with you overnight the wages of any man who
works for you, but pay him immediately. If you thus behave as
God's servant, you will receive your reward. Keep a close watch on
yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in
all your conduct." [TOBIT 4:14]
Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit: "Everything that you have commanded me, father, I will do. But how shall I be able to obtain the money from him, since he does not know me nor do I know him? What can I show him to make him recognize me and trust me, so that he will give me the money? I do not even know which roads to take for the journey into Media!" Tobit answered his son
Tobiah: "We exchanged signatures on a document written in duplicate; I divided it into two parts, and each of us kept one; his copy I put with the money. Think of it, twenty years have already passed since I deposited that money! So now, my son, find yourself a trustworthy man who will make the journey with you. We will, of course, give him a salary when you return; but get back that money from
Gabael." [TOBIT 5:1-3]
Tobit exclaimed: "Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family. So it turns out that you are a kinsman, and from a noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and
Nathaniah, the two sons of Shemaiah the elder; with me they used to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where we would worship together. No, they did not stray from the right path; your kinsmen are good men. You are certainly of good lineage, and welcome!" Then he added: "For each day you are away I will give you the normal wages, plus expenses for you and for my son. If you go with my son, I will even add a bonus to your wages!" Raphael replied: "I will go with him; have no fear. In good health we shall leave you, and in good health we shall return to you, for the way is safe."
[TOBIT 5:14-16]
But his mother began to weep. She said to Tobit: "Why have you decided to send my child away? Is he not the staff to which we cling, ever there with us in all that we do? I hope more money is not your chief concern! Rather let it be a ransom for our son! What the Lord has given us to live on is certainly enough for us." Tobit reassured her: "Have no such thought. Our son will leave in good health and come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day when he returns to you safe and sound. So, no such thought; do not worry about them, my love. For a good angel will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return unharmed." Then she stopped weeping.
[TOBIT 5:18-22,6:1]
When the wedding celebration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, "Son, see to it that you give what is due to the man who made the journey with you; give him a bonus too." Tobiah said: "Father, how much shall I pay him? It would not hurt me at all to give him half of all the wealth he brought back with me. He led me back safe and sound; he cured my wife; he brought the money back with me; and he cured you. How much of a bonus should I give him?" Tobit answered, "It is only fair, son, that he should receive half of all that he brought back." So Tobiah called Raphael and said, "Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and go in peace."
[TOBIT 12:1-5]
When Antiochus heard about these events, he was angry; so he ordered a muster of all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army. He opened his treasure chests, gave his soldiers a year's pay, and commanded them to be prepared for anything. He then found that this exhausted the money in his treasury; moreover the income from the province was small, because of the dissension and distress he had brought upon the land by abolishing the laws which had been in effect from of old. He feared that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough for his expenses and for the gifts that he had previously given with a more liberal hand than the preceding kings. Greatly perplexed, he decided to go to Persia and levy tribute on those provinces, and so raise a large sum of money. [1MACC
3:27-31]
But if war is first made on Rome, or any of its allies in any of their dominions, the Jewish nation will help them wholeheartedly, as the occasion shall demand; and to those who wage war they shall not give nor provide grain, arms, money, or ships; this is Rome's decision. They shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense. [1MACC
8:24-26]
"Ptolemais and its confines I give as a present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary. I make a yearly personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels out of the royal revenues, from appropriate places. All the additional funds that the officials did not hand over as they had done in the first years, shall henceforth be handed over for the services of the temple. Moreover, the dues of five thousand silver shekels that used to be taken from the revenue of the sanctuary every year shall be canceled, since these funds belong to the priests who perform the services. Whoever takes refuge in the temple of Jerusalem or in any of its precincts, because of money he owes the king, or because of any other debt, shall be released, together with all the goods he possesses in my kingdom. The cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary shall be covered out of the royal revenue. Likewise the cost of building the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it all around, and of building walls in Judea, shall be donated from the royal revenue." When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they neither believed nor accepted them, for they remembered the great evil that Demetrius had done in Israel, and how sorely he had afflicted them. [1MACC
10:39-46]
When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan, and that he intended to fight him, he sent envoys to him with this message: "We have detained your brother Jonathan on account of the money that he owed the royal treasury in connection with the offices that he held. Therefore, if you send us a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that when he is set free he will not revolt against us, we will release him." Although Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him, he gave orders to get the money and the boys, for fear of provoking much hostility among the people, who might say that Jonathan perished because Simon would not send Trypho the money and the boys.
[1MACC 13:14-18]
Antiochus, son of King Demetrius, sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and ethnarch of the Jews, and to all the nation, which read as follows:
"...Now, therefore, I confirm to you all the tax exemptions that the kings before me granted you and whatever other privileges they conferred on you. I authorize you to coin your own money, as legal tender in your country." [1MACC
15:1-2,5-6]
So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king's purpose. When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he asked if these things were really true. The high priest explained that part of the money was a care fund for widows and orphans, and a part was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the calumnies of the impious Simon, the total amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. He added that it was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the Place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world. But because of the orders he had from the king, Heliodorus said that in any case the money must be confiscated for the royal treasury. So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was great distress throughout the city. Priests prostrated themselves in their priestly robes before the altar, and loudly begged him in heaven who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them. Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed color of his face manifested the anguish of his soul. The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart. People rushed out of their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the Place was in danger of being profaned. [2MACC
3:8-18]
If I have eaten its produce without payment and grieved the hearts of its tenants; Then let the thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley! [JOB 31:39-40]
Then all his brethren and his sisters came to him, and all his former acquaintances, and they dined with him in his house. They condoled with him and comforted him for all the evil which the LORD had brought upon him; and each one gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones.
[Taken from JOB 42:11-12]
LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken. [PS 15:1-5]
Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will
follow behind. [PS 85:14]
For [wisdom's] profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue; She is more precious than corals, and none of your choice possessions can compare with her.
[Taken from PROV 3:14-15]
Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but virtue saves from
death. [PROV 10:2]
The wicked man makes empty profits, but he who sows virtue has
a sure reward. [PROV 11:18]
In all labor there is profit, but mere talk tends only to
penury. [PROV 14:23]
Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with
anxiety. [PROV 15:16]
Better a little with virtue, than a large income with
injustice. [PROV 16:8]
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash
haste leads certainly to poverty. [PROV 21:5]
He who makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble
over deadly snares. [PROV 21:6]
Be not one of those who give their hand in pledge, of those who become surety for debts; For if you have not the means to pay, your bed will be taken from under you. [PROV 22:26-27]
What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. [ECCL
1:3-4]
The covetous man is never satisfied with money, and the lover
of wealth reaps no fruit from it; so this too is vanity. [ECCL
5:9]
For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and
the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of
its owner. [ECCL 7:12]
Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living
glad, but money answers for everything. [ECCL 10:19]
And for profit in business and success with his hands he asks
facility of a thing with hands completely inert. [WISDOM 13:19]
Ashes his heart is! more worthless than earth is his hope, and more ignoble than clay his life; Because he knew not the one who fashioned him, and breathed into him a quickening soul, and infused a vital spirit. Instead, he esteemed our life a plaything, and our span of life a holiday for gain;
"For one must," says he, "make profit every way, be it even out of evil." [WISDOM
15:10-12]
Barter not a friend for money, nor a dear brother for the gold
of Ophir. [SIRACH 7:18]
Go not surety beyond your means; think any pledge a debt you
must pay. [SIRACH 8:13]
He who builds his house with another's money is collecting
stones for his funeral mound. [SIRACH 21:8]
For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth
blinds the eyes. [SIRACH 27:1]
He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand. Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due; Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need. Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him; When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth;
But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim. If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement;
If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor. Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated. To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms; Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed. Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish; Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold. Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil; Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe. A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false; Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you. The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune,
and the ingrate abandons his protector; Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands. The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits. Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
[SIRACH 29:1-20]
Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your
home [SIRACH 29:23]
Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults
from his creditors. [SIRACH 29:28]
He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds
blood who denies the laborer his wages. [SIRACH 34:22]
But goodness will never be cut off, and justice endures
forever. Wealth or wages can make life sweet, but better than
either is finding a treasure. [SIRACH 40:17]
But of these things be not ashamed, lest you sin through human respect: Of the law of the Most High and his precepts, or of the sentence to be passed upon the sinful; Of sharing the expenses of a business or a journey, or of dividing an inheritance or property; Of accuracy of scales and balances, or of tested measures and weights; Of acquiring much or little, or of bargaining in dealing with a
merchant... Of numbering every deposit, or of recording all that is given or received; Of chastisement of the silly and the foolish, or of the aged and infirm answering for wanton conduct.
Thus you will be truly cautious and recognized by all men as discreet.
[Taken from SIRACH 42:1-8]
Lo, the LORD empties the land and lays it waste; he
turns it upside down, scattering its inhabitants: Layman and
priest alike, servant and master, The maid as her
mistress, the buyer as the seller, The lender as the
borrower, the creditor as the debtor. The earth is utterly
laid waste, utterly stripped, for the LORD has decreed this
thing. [ISA 24:1-3]
Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your glorious garments, O Jerusalem, holy city.
No longer shall the uncircumcised or the unclean enter you. Shake off the dust, ascend to the throne, Jerusalem;
Loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion! For thus says the LORD:
You were sold for nothing, and without money you shall be redeemed. [ISA
52:1-3]
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no
money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and
without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what
fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall
delight in rich fare. [ISA 55:1-2]
Small and great alike, all are greedy for gain; prophet and
priest, all practice fraud. They would repair, as though it were
nought, the injury to my people: "Peace, peace!" they
say, though there is no peace. They are odious; they have done
abominable things, yet they are not at all ashamed, they know not
how to blush. Hence they shall be among those who fall; in their
time of punishment they shall go down, says the LORD. [JER 6:13-15]
Woe to him who builds his house on wrong, his terraces on
injustice; Who works his neighbor without pay, and gives him no
wages. [JER 22:13]
They schemed anxiously for money, but there is no trace of their work: They have vanished down into the nether world, and others have risen up in their stead. [BARUCH 3:18-19]
If a man is virtuous - if he does what is right and just,... if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry
and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is
virtuous - he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.
[EZEK 18:5,7-9]
There are those in you who take bribes to shed blood. You exact
interest and usury; you despoil your neighbors violently; and me
you have forgotten, says the Lord GOD. [EZEK 22:12]
Yet thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and I will restore Egypt's fortune, bringing them back to the land of
Pathros, the land of their origin, where it will be the lowliest of kingdoms, never more to set itself above the nations. I will make them few, that they may not dominate the nations. No longer shall they be for the house of Israel to trust in, but the living reminder of its guilt for having turned to follow after them. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
[EZEK 29:13-16]
According to their uncleanness and their transgressions I dealt with them, hiding my face from them. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have pity on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They shall forget their disgrace and all the times they broke faith with me, when they live in security on their land with no one to frighten them. [EZEK
39:24-26]
A merchant who holds a false balance, who loves to defraud! Though Ephraim says, "How rich I have become; I have made a fortune!"
All his gain shall not suffice him for the guilt of his sin. [HOSEA
12:8-9]
Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel!
You who abhor what is just, and pervert all that is right; Who build up Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness! Her leaders render judgment for a bribe, her priests give decisions for a salary, her prophets divine for money,
While they rely on the LORD, saying, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No evil can come upon us!" Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem reduced to rubble,
And the mount of the temple to a forest ridge. [MICAH 3:9-12]
Shall not all these take up a taunt against him, satire and epigrams about him, to say:
Woe to him who stores up what is not his: how long can it last! he loads himself down with debts. Shall not your creditors rise suddenly?
Shall not they who make you tremble awake? You shall become their spoil! [HAB 2:6-7]
I said to them, "If it seems good to you, give me my
wages; but if not, let it go." And they counted out my wages,
thirty pieces of silver. [ZECH 11:12]
I will draw near to you for judgment, and I will be swift to
bear witness Against the sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers,
those who defraud the hired man of his wages, Against those who
defraud widows and orphans; those who turn aside the stranger, and
those who do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. [MAL 3:5]
[Jesus said,] "No one can serve two masters. He will
either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." [MT
6:24]
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and
suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what can one give in exchange for his
soul?
[MT 16:26]
[Jesus said,] "That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole
debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."
[Taken from MT
18:23-35]
"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am
generous?'" [MT 20:1-15]
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged
in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. [MT 21:12]
"Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.
[MT 22:17-22]
"It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third,
one - to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'" [MT
25:14-30]
Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, "Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor." Since Jesus knew this, he said to them, "Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. In pouring this perfumed oil upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her." [MT
26:6-13]
When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? Look to it yourself." Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, "It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood." After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter's field just as the Lord had commanded me." [MT
27:1-10]
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the
soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present
[MT 28:11-15]
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking
stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts. [MK
6:7-8]
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and
suffer the loss of his soul? [MK 8:36]
They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he
began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned
the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were
selling doves. [MK 11:15]
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."
[MK 12:41-44]
When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon
the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil,
costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured
it on his head. There were some who were indignant. "Why has
there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for
more than three hundred days' wages and the money given to the
poor." They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, "Let
her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good
thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever
you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me.
She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body
for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed
to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of
her." Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. [MK
14:3-11]
And the crowds asked [John the Baptist], "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."
Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."
[Taken from LK 3:10-14]
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
[LK 6:34-35]
Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages
and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." [LK
7:40-43]
He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (the sick). He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
[LK 9:1-6]
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose
or forfeit himself? [LK 9:25]
After this the Lord appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to
you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from
one house to another." [LK 10:1-4,7]
He said to (his) disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore. All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides. Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
[LK 12:22-34]
Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
[LK 14:12-14]
Then he also said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors
of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently."
[Application of the Parable:] "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
The Pharisees, who loved
money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."
[Taken from LK 16:1-15]
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of
humanity - greedy, dishonest, adulterous - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
[LK 18:10-14]
So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.' He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.' And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.' But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold coins.' 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
[LK 19:12-27]
Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to put him to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas,
the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to discuss a plan for handing him over to them. They were pleased and agreed to pay him money. He accepted their offer and sought a favorable opportunity to hand him over to them in the absence of a crowd.
[LK 22:1-6]
He said to them, "When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?" "No, nothing," they replied. He said to them, "But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, 'He was counted among the wicked'; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment." Then they said, "Lord, look, there are two swords here." But he replied, "It is
enough!" [LK 22:35-38]
Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king."
[LK 23:1-2]
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and
doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of scripture, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
[JN 2:13-17]
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one (of) his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my
burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
[JN 12:1-8]
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. Thus Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated "son of encouragement"), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles... [ACTS
4:32-37]
A man named Simon used to practice magic in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, "This man is the 'Power of God' that is called 'Great.'" They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time, but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized. Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the
Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the
Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven. For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity." Simon said in reply, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
[ACTS 8:9-24]
As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit,
who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling.
She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, "These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Then it came out at that moment. When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities. [ACTS
16:16-19]
Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he answered. The commander replied, "I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money." Paul said, "But I was born one." [ACTS
22:27-28]
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
[ROM 4:4]
What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building. [1COR
3:5-9]
Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a
vineyard without eating its produce? Or who shepherds a flock
without using some of the milk from the flock? If we have sown
spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing that we reap a
material harvest from you? If others share this rightful claim on
you, do not we still more? Yet we have not used this right. On
the contrary, we endure everything so as not to place an obstacle
to the gospel of Christ. [1COR 9:7,11-12]
You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the gospel,
when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, "a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice,
pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. [PHIL
4:15-19]
For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if any man was unwilling to work, neither should that
man eat.
[2THES 3:7-10]
[Whoever aspires to the office of bishop must be] not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.
[Taken from 1TM 3:3]
Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain. Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. [1TM
6:3-10]
But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them. [2TM
3:1-5]
Let your life be free from love of money but be content with
what you have, for he has said, "I will never forsake you or
abandon you." [HEB 13:5]
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a
profit" - you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills it,
we shall live to do this or that."
[JMS 4:13-15]
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. [JMS
5:1-4]
So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, (overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but
eagerly. [1PT
5:1-2]
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